The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-07

nave Dttu uOius Ndilhut beTNlCe
that the failure Of the millennium to
reach our city before this is due
solely to the Rev. Matthew Middle
mas. | call that egotism or humility
gone mad, | don't know which. It's
my opinion that every one of the
twenty one has been faithiul-at all
events, know you have. As to the
painful facts OF which you've spoken
well, you must be patient. Rome
WASH built in a day; don't expect
the temple of moral progress to be.
| suspect that labor as zealously as
we may there'll be a good deal OF as.
sorted wickedness in this world when
we leave it Tor better one. The di-
vine command is, indeed, that we
should do whatsoever our hands find
to do with our might. But our re-
sponsibility ends with obedience to
that mandate. consequences are to
be lett to the Almighty"
30, undoubtedly, undoubtedly"
assented Middlemas, with a shade Of
impotence iu his voice. But, Bax-
ter, I've dis 'overed a tendency in
myself trust none Of my brother
ministers share ito be so resigned
to leaving consequences to the Al
mighty as not to take as much pains
al / might to shape the consequences
that III have to leave. just so mia
listers who are no more called 10
preach the gospel than they are to
make bicycles cut of the rings OF
Saturn, instead of being constrained
by their conspicuous failure to aban
don the pulpit for a vocation for
which they have some aptitude, en-
trench themselves behind the asser-
ton that the world is TO be saved by
the ioolishuess OF preaching, and
that consequences are to be lett to
the Almighty. Such phrases are
convenient refugees for billiards and
drones. have been q minister
heref for two years, L hud
that in that time the town
although growing in wealth and cul-
ture, has refrigerated morally.
III cannot ignore that fact
II owe it to my church,
to myself, and above all to the good
cause, to look it squarely in the face
It's not for me TO Judge the other
twenty ministers of South Enderby
lest | be Judged twenty times in re.
turn. But 1t is for me to give q
strict account to myself Of my owl
stewardship. II the Zig 1t that streams
from my pulpit is darkness it canno'
too soon be put out. I've made vi
my mind to resign
"Now, my dear Middlemas," ex
claimed BsNter, springing to his feet
"let me entreat You not TO do any
thing SO i'll advised. ;"
ut is useless 10 try and dissuad,
me, my dear Deacon, Middlema
went on with resoluto shake Of hi
head. II must look at my own dut.
through my own eyes. am net 20
inE 10 abandon my work, for | can
not bring myself to believe that Coz
did not call me TO serve Him b.
| striving directly for the Christisniz
ing of the world. Neither have
decided TO leave Souti Endcrby
What | do propose to do Iii .ot yo
know shortly when | get my schem
fully matured'.
The evening Of the day on whic
he had this conversation with Dea
con Baxter, Matthew Middlemas for
mally laid down his pas,orate. HI
people we're dumbiOunded. WIS
added TO their amazement was I'll
statement appended TO his letter {
resignation that IL was not unlikel
that in another capacity he woul
continue TO labor in South Enderb.
The church, which had an inkling
what he proposed to do, aud whic
really loved him, replied that IL WI
so thoroughly convinced that he WI
doing a good work where he was thi
il must decline TO accept his resignl
ton. 1t suggested that II he wouI
retain the pastorate aud take such
. leave OF absence as he desired {,
any special work, they would be glu
to give him an assistant. Their pr
, posal did not quite meet Mr.. Middl
mass views, but he a,sentod 20
a That done, he addressed courteo'
a note to each one OF his twenty mi
q isterill brethren Of the town, inyitiI
, them 20 meet at hts hou
that day week TO consider
? plan Of cooperative Christian wol
? on which, as he stated, he greatly d
q sired to take their Judgment. d
OF the number declined outright, I
reasons which seemed TO him
a though not 10 Middlemas-good a.
. sufficient. The rest accepted. ,
I the night OF the conference he US
= cred such OF them as smoked IN
n his front parlor, where a box ofcigu
Rwainted them; To the other two
gave seats In his back parlor;
~ himself took chair command
- both rooms. When all had arriv
a and the compliments Of the seas
/ had been exchanged, Mr.. Middlem
" quite informally proceeded TO outli
n Tor them about as he had for Baxt
Il his reasons for leaving bis pull
a Then he went on something II
IS this:
IS II realize that I'm addressing {
IS generals in commapd OF the Sou
10 Rndcrby division Of the army Of I
10 Lord. South Euderby is not a gr'
es strategic point; il is not a mo
e. Gibraltar nor moral pass of Tn
re mopyln, nor anything OF that impo
W ant sort. Aud, nevertheless, II is
i'll mean city, and OF course IL bohoo
st Us n ronder that division OF our ar
to as efficient as possible. IL is Gle
err however, from the facts which | h
ID submitted relating to the moral G
10 dition Of the city, that our forces h
40 orlate been oyermatched by the for
OF OF the South Endcrby diyisioa Of
of army OF Satan. I'm AZ a loss 70
at termine why this should be 80.
he may be that the great Captain,
ng some wise but inserutablo ?
lst pose, intended that Tor the pres
SO we should be oyermatched. Ga
ri. other hand, II may be-aud thi
is take it, you will regard as the n